Re: In regards to my 'simpler lifestyle' post..

In regards to the post I posted within the past few weeks regarding 'The increased cost of living'

A prime example of what lifestyle changes create is having a surplus of those items that you use on an extremely regular basis, for pretty much penny prices [that is the ultimate goal!] for what you'd normally pay to purchase those new $100 jeans.  Thus follows:

S   I   M   P   L   I   C   I   T   Y   !

A prime example of simplicity for me has happened within the past month.  By scoring on 3 HUGE Charmin pkgs of 24 rolls of toilet paper via Staples.com website [Example of the deal: 6% e-bate back, coupon code savings $40, online holiday free shipping promo saved $12+ =$21 for 3 HUGE bags of 24pkg/rolls of toilet paper delightfully delivered to my address this month..after everything..I got 3 HUGE pkg's delivered to my address vs. what I would normally pay for not even 1!  That is why I find no need to shop at Costco with membership costs..but that's another blog for another time].

I will take a picture of them later to post on here, so you can get an idea.  They're those big fat bags of toilet paper that you regularly never see on sale at stores but are a great deal if you don't care about sales and just on a unit price.

THIS is what arrived to my door...3 whole separate big huge packages, 3 of them delivered for $19 [saved: $60!] after everything was completed [% Ebate refunded]:


What does something like this mean to me?  I most likely just stockpiled a years supply of toilet paper for my family of 6.  This left me with extra cash from such expense, to invest into modern hip $70 Seven jeans vs. some cheap store brand that would really give me the 90's-90's mommy bottom look.  **shivers** oooh yah, you KNOW what I'm talking about:

With increasing prices of cost of living..

With the increasing prices of the cost of living, it's very important to be smart about where your money goes.  As we all know right now, we never truly know where the economy might still go at this point with so many things uncertain.  We've gone from the average life expectancy of employment allowing vast majority being lucky to fully retire after their delightful 25 years at their occupation.  However, the average life expectancy that has left many in uncertainty is the brutal truth..those vast majority are now a rare breed to even keep their job for 25 years let alone even think about retiring early, or even on time.  For those rare few, it is indeed a time for celebration.  However, the brutal truth is that employment has become 2.5 years for average Americans now vs. 25 years.  Combine that with the 2 years of employment to even get a house, and you've got a gambling carnival ride to take in your life even wondering if you can ever get a loan approved for that first loan by climbing the food chains.

With that said, I am one of those individuals driven to succeed.  Yet, many pot holes always comes in the way.  Where a company rather hire from temp agencies so they don't have to pay benefits, or they'll fire you before that 90 days is up so they won't have to pay you benefits.

This is a greatly condensed version of what is going on in America.  However, what can WE as individual consumers do in order to make sure we're taken care of the best way possible?  To still enjoy life, perhaps even make others wonder how you do it constantly with some seldom lavish enjoyments on a tight budget or dime?

Simple changes.  Simple changes that will within time become a habit.  The simpler you create your life to be, the more functional it'll become.  This does not mean you go stir crazy with the dishes not being loaded or a hair out of place.  This means, you pick your battles but have a routine and find a fluid way to create a simpler lifestyle.

To many, coupons do not scream simpler.  I confess, it's not entirely that simple.  It's highly calculated and even I make my friends or family heads spin when I tell them how the deal was drummed up.  Add my ability to function around online sales, and people become really fearful of the online realm.   As they say, if it looks too good to be true..it must be, right?  I want to chime into this misconception and state: "no, it is not too good to be true, unless you do it right and know where to look and seek out those tools to do so!" You don't have to be a coupon hoarder or a dumpster diver to score free groceries.  You can create a simpler more fluent way towards couponing that saves you not only time seeking out deals, but saves you tons of time within the stores seeking the items and redeeming the coupons [ahem, for the cashiers to!].

I will be honest, I do vary on my savings, freebies, samples, couponing...but you have to not be set in your ways and allow for flexibility in order to welcome each new obstacle that comes your way.  To have a delightful but also humbly honest sense about the situation to yourself and others around you.  Made a mistake?  Be honest to others, and yourself.  People often can see around it, specially cashiers [in their minds: "yup, hear THIS one before.."].  This will reduce stress, uncertainties, and create a better outcome for you and those who will benefit from your savings potential.

What can this couponing, savings, freebies, freebates, and more...do for you?  It can create a simpler lifestyle.  By finding items that are on sale now that you don't even need immediately but you do use within that year, this creates simplicity.  By doing this, we have kicked the need for unexpected expenses greatly.  We've traveled as a family more, and even eaten out tons more than we have before I was laid off from my occupation like vast majority of Americans were running into within the past 3 years.  I keep my work skills fresh by always researching, staying on top of trends online, and using those tools to create a simpler lifestyle for my family by improving our debt to income ratio, or savings potential.

We have gone from 6 digits income household to relying upon not even half, if we're lucky.  Does that mean we're 'ghetto' or 'poor' or 'low income'?  Sure, we've been labeled over the years since chose to pursue this direction in our life.  This is only temporary.  But the lifestyle change of saving vs. spending hasn't been temporary.  This has become a habit within our lives in order to create more opportunities and less stress within our lives.  By knowing we don't have to use debt because unexpected expenses are pilling up on us.

What is the secret to our lifestyle of being able to be a household size of 6 people, and the main current breadwinner is attending college F/T with work very P/T?  Lifestyle changes: Saving not spending, stocking up on what we NEED [not what is free with a coupon that we never use], common sense changes, having zero debt, owning our own vehicles.....the list goes on.  We've decided to change our lifestyles around and aren't planning on changing this.